County officials are keeping watch as state lawmakers consider the pros and cons of allowing self-driving vehicles on Virginia’s roadways.
“As a locality in a region that likely will see notable deployment of this emerging transportation technology, we want to ensure that public safety remains at the forefront of all decision-making,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti told ARLnow.
Waymo is now mapping Arlington’s residential streets, the robotaxi company confirmed.
ARLnow spotted one of the self-driving car company’s mapping vehicles in a residential part of Arlington this past Friday (Oct. 23), and a reader separately reported seeing another on a local street.
Even if self-driving vehicles become legally possible in Virginia, they’d have to get through several more rounds of discussion and possible regulation before they could hit the road.
Sen. Saddam Salim (D-37), the chief patron of legislation in Richmond supporting autonomous trucking and ride-hailing services in Virginia, told ARLnow that his bill would establish a path forward for businesses like Waymo, but it would by no means be the final word.
The day might be coming when self-driving lifts will roam the streets of Arlington — but a couple legislative decisions would have to happen first.
Waymo, Google’s self-driving taxi arm that has been expanding in several other metro areas, has had its eye on the D.C. area for a while.
Google’s self-driving taxi arm, Waymo, is coming to D.C. — but making some pit stops in Arlington along the way.
The company announced in March that it would start operating in the District in 2026. Before it starts picking up ride-hailing passengers, however, Waymo has been conducting tests on D.C. streets.
